Ratchet-wrench



.y UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

lTo all whom it may concern:

JOHN B. HALBERT, OF MAITLAND, FLORIDA.

RATCH ET-WRENCH;

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 268,792, dated December 12, 1885?,

` Application tiled Aug-ust 1, 1882. (No muriel.)

Be it known thatI,JOHN B. HALBER'1,a citizen ofthe United States, residing at Maitland, in the county of Orange and State of Florida, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Ratchet-Wrenches: and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description ofthe invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters and figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

This invention has relation to improvements in ratchet-wrenches; and itconsists essentially 1in the combination,construction,and arrangement of the several parts, as will be hereinafterl'ully described, and specifically' pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings, Figure lis a side view, part in section, Fig. 2 is a plan view, and Figs. 3, 4, and 5 are detail views, of a wrench constructed according to my-invention.

A represents the rotary head. It is formed with the angular opening ct extending entirely through it for convenience in removing bolts or nuts, and also to render the wrench suitable for turning nuts on or ott by simply reversing the same, so as to work with one or the other end of the rotary head. This opening may be made square, hexagonal, or any other shape desired, and, where it is necessary so to do, different heads with the different-formed openings may be provided.

a represen ts a peripheral ring, formed on the rotary head midway its ends, and made larger than the main portion ot' the head, so as to provide shoulders on the opposite sides thereof,

for the purpose hereinafter described. In the center of this ring I form the ratchet-teeth a2, extending entirely around the rotary .head A. On either side of the teeth c2 on the ring c', I leave annular bearings a3 for the open portion or ring on handle, as will be described.

b b are rings or flanges abutted againstthe `side of ring al, and projected outwardly to form side bearings for the handle-ring, as will be described. I prefer to form the ring or ange b as part of the rotary head, and .to screw the shoulder b on the opposite side, t'or which I shown in Fig. 3.

provide the saine with a screw-thread, b2, as

It will be understood, however, that both rings b b could be made removable, as is the case with ring b.l By forming the ring c larger than the main portion ot' the head A, as shown, and forming the ratchetteeth in the center ot' same, I provide abtting shoulders for the rings or lianges b b on either side of the ring a', and' also bearings a3 on either side ot' the ratchet'teeth to receive the handle-ring, hereinafter described. The rings b b are sloped, beginning almost with their peripheries, down to the main portion ot' the rotary head, and I forni them especially to tit under the tread ot a railway-track, as Ihave designed my wrench particularly for` such work, and I extend the rotary head on either side of the enlarged peripheral ring a far enough to permit either end to tit around a bolt-head or nut secured in the hollow of the rail, between the tread land base, and yet permit the handle, hereinafter described, towork in a line parallel with the rail.

B represents the handle. Itis composed of the working-arm c and the ringo. The ring o corresponds-in width to the ring a' on rotary head, and it isadapted to be placed around said ring and secured between the iianges b b', as shown in Fig. 2.

c2 represents a portion ot' the arm o near its connection with the ring c', which portion is larger than arm c, as shown in Fig. 1.

d represents a slot cut through ring c', and continued in a groove or mortise, d2, in portion c2 of the handle, adapted to receive and per` mit the necessary movement ot' the pawl, hereinafter described. The forward wall of the slot d is inclined inward at an angle, as shown, for the purpose of better securing the pawl in the ring c', as will be described.

d is a mortise out in .arm c at its joint with portion c. The mortise is not as deep as the mortise formed in portion c', and it is connected with the said mortise by an opening, through which is passed the spring, hereinafter described. The bridge or cross-piece c3 of portion c2 forms a covering and a protector for that portion of the spring between its point of connection with the handle and with the pawl. Through the walls of portion c left by SSA IOO

slot in the rear end of the pawl.

i the mortise d2, I form holes for the pawl-pivoting pin e.

frepresents the pawl. On its upper side it is shaped to conform t0 the ring c and portion c2 of handle, as shown in Fig. 1. At its forward end it is constructed with the points 7c/fz. The pointf engages the teeth of the the slot d, as shown, and it is thus impossible to withdraw the pawl from the handle-ring c without first removing the rotary head and pushing' the paw] inward, so in case of breakage ot' the pivotal pill the pawl will not drop out and be lost. Thelength ofthe paw] from its rear end to the end of the pointsfjc2 is greater than the slot d, and the pawl can only be removed from the handle through the opening in ring c. There is therefore no danger of the pawl dropping out and being lost by the breaking or slipping out ot' its pivotingpin e.

f3 is an opening through the pawlfnear its rear, adapted to receive the pin e. f4 is a small g represents the spring. Its end is passed under the bridge 03 and driven into the mortise d. In order to secure the spring n place, I make its rear portion slightly Wider than the mortise d', and drive it into place in thesaid mortise, where, when s0 applied, it is securely held in place. The forward end ofthe spring rests in the slotf4 in end of pawl and presses the pointf down against the ratchet. When the spring is broken or becomes otherwise ineffectual it can be removed by removing the pawl and inserting the point of a chisel into the mortise d and driving the spring out.

The operation of my wrench is readily understood on reference to the drawings.

Having thus describedmy invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, 1s-

1. In a ratchet-wrench, the combination of the rotary head A, having annular ratchet a2, the handle B, provided with ring c', and constructed with the slot d and mortise d', com municating through an opening formed under thebridge c3, the pawlf, and the spring g, se-

cured in position within the mortise d and under the bridge c, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

2. The combination of the rotary head A, provided with annular ratchet a2, the handlering c', placed on the rotary head, and constructed with the slot. d, opening immediately over the ratchet a2, with its forward wall inclined inward at an angle, as shown. and the pawl f, having a point,f, projected from its inner lower edge below the ring c', whereby when it is raised the said point will engage on the front wall otl the slot d, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signaturein presence ot' two witnesses.

JOHN B. HALBERT.

Witnesses:

H. L. DE FoREs'r, vJ. E. INGRAHAM. 

